I summited Mt. Kilimanjaro on October 1st with ClimbKili via the 8-day Lemosho Route, and it was an unforgettable experience.
My guide Herment and summit porter Ervasto were incredible — knowledgeable, encouraging, and constantly checking in on our wellbeing. The entire team of porters, guides, and staff worked tirelessly to make the climb as comfortable as possible. They were always ready to lend a hand and created a positive, supportive environment that kept everyone motivated.
A huge shoutout to Justin, our chef, who somehow managed to make delicious, hearty meals every day — even when altitude made eating a challenge. There was always plenty of food, and every meal felt like a small comfort on the mountain.
We took the 8-day Lemosho Route, which offered amazing scenery and really helped with acclimatization. The Kosovo Advantage at the last camp was a big bonus — starting from that higher camp shaved valuable time off our summit push, which made a tough day just a little bit easier (and very appreciated!).
Summit day itself was brutal — the combination of little sleep, freezing temperatures, and a long, dark climb before sunrise tested every ounce of endurance. The descent that followed was equally tough, but the sense of accomplishment was beyond words.
A highlight from our trek was when someone in our group had a birthday, and the ClimbKili team surprised him with a homemade cake on the mountain. It was such a thoughtful and heartwarming gesture — a true testament to how much they care about their guests.
My only real feedback is about the equipment. The tents are showing their age — many had resewn zippers that were difficult to close, and seams started to loosen after a few days. They also aren’t fully waterproof; during a short rain shower, I noticed a few small leaks. Even the toilet tent zipper didn’t close all the way, which meant less privacy than ideal.
Despite that, I would absolutely recommend ClimbKili. The people, organization, and care they put into every detail were outstanding. If they update their tents, they’d easily be a 5-star operation!
We had the most memorable time climbing Kilimanjaro and many thanks to ClimbKili team. Their team went all out in making this adventure safe, fun, and exciting unforgettable.
Highly recommend ClimbKili.
MISERABLY SLOW PACE WITH CLIMB KILI – AVOID THIS COMPANY
Kate & I climbed Kilimanjaro 9/19–9/26/25 with Climb Kili. The mountain is amazing, but this company nearly ruined it. If you value a reasonable hiking pace and an enjoyable experience, look elsewhere.
The Problem
Climb Kili insists on an excruciatingly slow pace. I don’t mean “pole, pole” (the traditional slow Kili style) — I mean painfully, comically, miserably slow. Much, much slower than other guided groups. We often crawled along while other groups from other companies walked comfortably past us. The result: frustration, wasted hours, and very little joy on what should have been a once-in-a-lifetime climb.
Day-by-Day Highlights
Day 1: Started at Lemosho Gate (7,536'). Forced into an unbearably slow pace. Reached Forest Camp (9,186') late in the afternoon.
Days 2–3: Same story — slow, miserable hiking to Shira 1 (11,500') and Shira 2 (13,650'). Feedback ignored.
Day 4: Rainy climb to 15,200'. Finally allowed to go ahead with the cook, Davis, at a normal pace. Despite downpour, it was the first enjoyable stretch of the trip.
Day 5: Best day. Our guide Saba took us alone over the Barranco Wall to Karanga Camp (13,100'). A normal pace made the entire day enjoyable.
Day 6: Back to the usual slog — 2% decent, 63% uncomfortably slow, 30% miserably slow — to Kosovo Camp (15,950'). Kate began feeling altitude, started Diamox.
Day 7 (Summit): Thankfully with Saba again. Pace was reasonable; summit push was challenging but not miserable. I worried all week about hypothermia from going too slow — thankfully, this day was different. Kate struggled with altitude but made it.
Day 8: Final descent started painfully slow until we begged to go with Saba again. Only then did we move at a normal pace to Mweka Gate.
Pros
Porters worked hard, camp setup was fine (dining tent, chairs, hot meals).
The mountain itself is spectacular.
Saba, our guide, saved parts of the climb by letting us move normally.
Cons
Lead guide enforced an absurdly slow pace that drained enjoyment and created constant frustration.
Feedback was repeatedly ignored.
Only when we were separated with Saba did the climb become enjoyable.
With a better company, this could have been the trip of a lifetime. With Climb Kili, much of it felt like endurance training in patience.
Final Verdict
Climbing Kilimanjaro should be hard, inspiring, and joyful. Climb Kili turned it into a test of frustration. Unless you want to shuffle along at a snail’s pace while watching other groups actually enjoy the mountain, avoid this company. Choose an outfitter that respects both the mountain and the clients.